Ahmed Ali (politician)

Dr. Ahmed Ali

Dr. Ahmed Ali (1938 - 8 June 2005) was a Fijian academic and politician who held Cabinet office several times from the late 1970s onwards. Unlike the majority of his fellow Indo-Fijians, he gravitated towards the right of the political spectrum, and was aligned with the Fijian Alliance of Prime Minister Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara in the 1970s and 1980s, and with the United Fiji Party of Laisenia Qarase in the early 2000s. He was one of only two Indo-Fijians to agree to serve in the interim government established in the wake of two military coups carried out to assert indigenous political supremacy in 1987.

Many saw Ali, as a politician, as being ahead of his time. As Minister for Education in 1985, he proposed integrating Fijians schools, most of which were racially segregated. His proposals sparked widespread outrage in both communities, fearful of the undermining of their cultural and religious traditions.

Following the parliamentary election held in 2001 to restore democracy following the coup d'état the year before, Ali was appointed to the Senate by Prime Minister Qarase. (9 of the 32 Senators are appointed by the Prime Minister). Ali was subsequently chosen as Vice-President of the Senate, a position he held until 20 December 2004, when he was appointed Minister for Information and Media Relations in the Qarase cabinet. He was to hold this portfolio till his death.

Following a short illness, Ali died at the Prince of Wales Private Hospital in Sydney, Australia, on 8 June 2005. His funeral was held the next day at Sydney's Lakemba Mosque. The Fijian government was represented at the funeral by George Konrote, Fiji's High Commissioner to Australia, and by Ratu Meli Malani, Fiji's Consul to Sydney. Time constraints made it impossible for any Cabinet colleagues of Ali's to attend the funeral, which had to be held the day after his death in accordance with Muslim protocol.

Ali was survived by his wife, Bessie, and their two sons, Usman and Hashim. Supporters and opponents alike praised Ali for his love and loyalty to Fiji, and for his willingness to serve his country in a multitude of capacities.